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Fiction Classification: Literary or Genre? Short Story, Novella, or Novel?
The literary definition of fiction Fiction is a narrative told in prose form about events not true to life. Many books include disclaimers that the work is made up solely by the author's imagination, and any similarities the tale bears to real events are coincidences....
The Difference Between Agents, Publishers, and Editors
Almost all freelance editors, at one time or another, get the question: "Can you edit my book and get it published?" The simple answer is no. The two are totally separate. Freelance copyeditors or substantive/development editors do not publish books. They prepare your...
How to Write a Best-seller
What makes a best-seller? No one has a definitive answer, but mine satisfies me: The reader never sees the words. Got your attention, didn't I? Well, the real title of this is The Psychology of Reading; What's Going on In a Reader's Mind, which is a goal all writers...
How Does a Developmental Editor Work with a Writer?
Before you submit your manuscript to an agent or publisher ... And before you pay for copyediting or proofreading ... For a writer seeking to find an agent and/or publisher, working with a developmental editor before submission is an invaluable advantage. Once a...
Refining Your Vision: The Art of Rewriting
The Art of Rewriting and Unwriting Perhaps you've heard this old joke. A visitor to New York once asked a musician for directions, inquiring, “Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?” The answer came back: “Practice!” Whatever the art form, the development of...
Caveat Emptor. Buyer Beware When Looking for a Qualified Editor.
Caveat emptor, or buyer beware, is equally good advice for hiring an editor as it is for buying a washing machine, house, or automobile. An editor’s appearance on a list of editors—including members of freelance editorial associations—does not mean she or he is...
Mystery Writing is Murder
The first time I sat down to hammer out a manuscript (a historical romance), I made a ton of rookie mistakes. One of the biggest was the endless parade of secondary characters I had strolling through the pages. Much of the action of the book took place at a country...
Why You Need a Children’s Picture Book Editing Specialist
You’ve always wanted to do it, and now you finally have. It’s an exhilarating, wonderful feeling, and you have every reason to feel proud. You’ve written that children’s picture book—and you’re fired up and ready to publish. But stop. Before you slip your manuscript...
Hire a Book Editor? Mark Levine Interviews Lynda Lotman
1. Is there a difference between an editor who edits other mediums (magazines, web copy, etc.) and one who specializes in books? Absolutely, because the goals differ, especially for fiction. Newspaper, magazine, and web editors trim and delete to narrow the focus to...
How to Format Your Picture Book Text
Imagine you are an editor at a publishing house that still accepts unsolicited submissions. Beside you is a teetering tower of manuscripts awaiting your response. Several more piles choke the floor around your desk, and they'll only be larger by tomorrow. After a...
Query Letter Basics for the Children’s Book Market
“This is really hard!” I’m quite certain that’s the sentence most uttered by writers trying to concoct a strong query or cover letter.
Writing Tip: Make It Plain
No one wants to read anything that looks like the terms of use for the average computer software. Why do we insist on writing like that? For example, here is an excerpt of the Terms of Use for the Waze app.* All words in this entire blog entry that are in boldface are...
The Value Of Editors
Recently, the New York Times notified their editorial staff that they were going to lay off or buy out half of them. So the editorial staff published an open letter to Executive Editor Dean Baquet and Managing Editor Joe Kahn. In it, they describe some of what we...
Facts and Emotions
Sometimes we editors have to distance ourselves from a manuscript. Sometimes that happens when the scope of work requires a lighter touch from the editor than would best serve the manuscript. For example, a manuscript might be difficult to follow, sparse in its...
The Cahoon Chronicles. Memoir and Story
Memoir Writing Tips Memoirs are deceptive. It seems like such an easy thing to tell people about your life. Just start at the beginning, right? No, don’t. Haven’t you ever been trapped in That conversation before? The one with the coworker or in-law or uncle? Or...
